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| The Scroll Campaign - Where Your Destiny Awaits! |
Predestinated Days
Today, after around a decade of working on the second module, I now bring you the result of that work! The second module, Predestinated Days, is now finally available for download. I imagine many who have followed my blogs over the years may not have seen this day coming, and I admit that the going has been quite tough on occasion. However, the module finally came together well over the last few months, and now a completed new adventure lies before you!
This second module has all the benefits of being created on the experiences I learned from the first module, and the many years of working with the NWN2 toolset. I have learned when things have worked and when they have not, and I hope this latest chapter in the campaign story will be a fun addition to what some of you may already be familiar with. On the other hand, if you have not yet played the first module, then I welcome you to consider starting from the first module, The First Day, which will serve as a great beginning and a way for you to become familiar with some of the campaign home-brew mechanics.
What's It All About?
Predestinated Days supports the tagline: "A philosophical campaign exploring theological determinism, predestination, and free will within a NWN2 adventure!" For some, this may be enough wording to put them off playing entirely... but for the brave-hearted, and those ready to step into a world unknown to them, Predestinated Days respects the player's sense of adventure and may be exactly right for you.
The campaign tries to explore some of the deep questions of life, and in a way that I hope encourages the player to keep pushing forward to learn more. On the other hand, if you would prefer not to think too hard about that sort of thing, then maybe your role is simply to put the world of Althéa to rights by the strength of the sword! Either way, it is only your presence that is actually required, and then to explore a world that you know little about.
If you decide to start the story from the beginning of Predestinated Days, then as soon as you wake from your last day at the Bloated Buckle Inn, you will be ready to push forward into the regions beyond your home village in search of fame, fortune and adventure! On the other hand, if you have played the first module, and are continuing with your saved game party, then you will have a little more background to work from, which may give you a slight advantage as you take your first steps.
Thinking Is Rewarded!
The Scroll Campaign, which includes the current released modules, may be a challenge for anyone who is not prepared to listen to important NPCs or read some materials found. If you have played tabletop Pen and Paper (PnP) Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), then you may be more familiar with the kind of interaction that this campaign provides. While there is no DM at the head of the table, the campaign has been designed to cover as many elements that a DM would normally provide:
A) Game Handouts: In my own PnP sessions, players could often come across materials found in the world in the form of scrolls, books or puzzles (see next). These are still found within the campaign and are designed to be colourful, informative and to deepen the story. They are not just text dumps about some background that is vague or inconsequential. These additions often include extra clues and/or information the player needs to make progress.
B) Game Puzzles: Puzzles are also very much a staple of PnP D&D, and I wanted to ensure Predestinated Days came with its own fair share of new puzzles for the campaign. New puzzles range from individual items to area wide events. For those that do not like puzzles, some item-related ones can be skipped. However, there is extra XP to be gained for those that solve them.
C) Tactical Combat Options: I recognise that not all players like to handle the combat the same way. Therefore, right from the start, the player can choose how they want their own combats to unravel: either in real time and manual pausing, or with an inbuilt pseudo turn-based system that automatically pauses every round. Added to this is the facility to easily to turn AI on or off for individual PCs or for the party as a whole, straight from the portraits or new "brain" button.
D) Tactical Death Options: Again, not every player likes the way death handles in a game. Some like the auto-recovery of their party if just a single PC survives a combat, while others prefer a "hardcore" system, where you need a means to raise a fellow companion from the death if need be. Both systems are supported, with an additional layer of tactical gameplay added in the way of Life Essences! With these unique magikal essences, a player can change an option individually for each PC to help determine how their own deaths may be affected.
E) A Reactionary World: While there may not be a DM at the head, the NPCs you encounter will not just allow you to do anything you like. They have been designed to react to your behaviour and their options change according to how you reacted with the environment around them. Even something as simple as speaking to one NPC before another can change events.
F) A Time To Rest: In PnP D&D, you could not just rest at any time and in any place. Furthermore, a cleric was often employed in a party to ensure the heroes would not have to keep purchasing food to survive. All these elements of PnP, and more (such as the need for spell books and holy books to learn spells) have been preserved in The Scroll Campaign. However, as long as the player considers their journey ahead, then they need not suffer from attrition or long delays. Waiting for time to pass is often easily accessible to the heroes, after which a normal rest will restore abilities according to their environment.
G) Extensive Crafting: Without a doubt, the player who takes their time to understand and work with the many crafting scrolls available will have an advantage. Even at the start of the game, a PC can purchase two crafting books that give every detail of the "ancient" craft, which PCs with the feats and skills can start working with as soon as they acquire the ingredients they need. Just like PnP, the world economy has been fixed in such a way that encourages crafting or taking care about what you spend your hard earned gold on.
The Challenge Awaits!
The above are just some of the core home-brew rules in place or available to choose from. There are other aspects too, such as Fog of War, dynamic weather and improved inventory handling, and which all add to the gaming experience for those players that like a comprehensive game.
This really is a long-term campaign designed for those players who like to spend time exploring a world that gradually reveals its secrets the more they explore. Rest assured, however, if you do find the challenges too hard, special care has also been taken to ensure the difficulty level options do make a difference to the game challenge, as well as any balancing for party size in the first place. That said, it is not a free pass to wander where you like if you have not made some progress of your own.
The Credits
Last but not least, I would like to give a shout out to all the people who have helped me with this NWN2 PnP Campaign conversion project over the years. Hopefully, in a later update, I may even be able to put these names into an end credits video.
THE SCROLL CAMPAIGN CREDITS
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Listed in alphabetical order.
ATARI/OBSIDIAN/ASPYR
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NEW CREATURES (OR RESKINS)
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Arpharazon
ArtEChoke
cacysunlee
cuiilv
Cyric_the_Dark
Dann Pigdon
Derek_H
Evil Edison
FaerzressSparkles
Frank Perez (aka Elysius)
Hellfire
Kalister68
Kamal
MoW
Rashi
rjshae
Rogue Dao Studios
RWS
Schazzwozzer
4760
NEW TILESETS
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Kalister68
MoW
RWS/rjshae
Tupoun
Travus (METATILES FIXES FOR EE)
NEW PLACEABLES
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Morbane
PJ156
ALPHA/BETA TESTERS
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Dustin_Offal
Jennifer Botelle
rjshae
4760
XML IDEAS (Altered)
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clubok
Little Baron
The Fred
OTHER SUPPORTERS!
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KevL (Scripting)
NWN2 Community!
